Somerville celebrates ‘Week of the Young Child’

By Katie Bowler / kbowler@wickedlocal.com

Monday

May 1, 2017 at 1:20 PMMay 9, 2017 at 2:27 PM

Dozens of Somerville’s youngest students and children crowded into the Aldermanic Chambers in City Hall mid-Thursday morning, ready to celebrate “Week of the Young Child” and explore the importance of talking, listening, and being kind.

The Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) invited young children and their families to participate in the annual celebration, complete with live music and a special visit from Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.

Started in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the “Week of the Young Child” focuses “public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs,” according to their website.

While themes and dates are designated by the NAEYC, local organizations plan the actual events.

To start out the morning SFLC Language and Leadership Liaison Maura Mendoza led the group in song, starting first with a song about talking.

“Talk, talk, I like to talk. I talk to my mother and I talk to my sister,” sang Mendoza, encouraging the kids to jump and sing with her. “Talk, talk, we like to talk, we talk about the weather and the things we do together.”

From there they sang a welcome song for the mayor, saying “hello” in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic.

Curtatone, joined by Superintendent of Somerville Public Schools (SPS) Mary Skipper and School Committee Chair Laura Pitone read a city proclamation declaring April 27, 2017, as the official day of celebration during the Week of the Young Child.

“Somerville works hard to be a kind and fair place for everybody,” read Skipper.

“Somerville is working to improve learning and experience for young children, which are crucial for growth and development and for building a better future for everyone in Somerville,” continued Pitone.

Curtatone pledged to invest more in SPS and early childhood education. This fiscal year, he said, residents will see an even greater investment because the city “knows that is going to pay off.”

“I was sitting in my office, and hearing the beautiful noise of kids laughing and screaming and cheering ... and I have to tell you, I wish I could hear that everyday,” said Curtatone. ”Everyone works hard everyday to make sure we give you kids, and this is the importance of this week, everything you need early on because we want you to do great things. We want you ... to have a great future.”

Curtatone said he was proud to look into the fully-packed chambers and see parents, guardians, young children and students from all different backgrounds. Diversity is what makes Somerville great, he said, it’s what makes America great.

A handful of schools and early childhood programs presented their class projects, bringing up sculptures and books made by the kids. Each project was about being kind to one another, and and the importance of talking and listening to neighbors.

After a final goodbye song with Mendoza, similar to the welcome song, children lined up and went into the hallway, pointing at pictures and walking around City Hall.

Somerville High School students in the early childhood development program helped facilitate activities, such as a craft with the Beautiful Stuff Project. Outside students were able to tour city vehicles, such as a fire truck and police car.

Learn more about the Week of the Young Child at http://www.naeyc.org/woyc/faq.